Press releases

~ Virgin Mobile reveals the Christmas carols that make us cringe ~

Sydney, 15 December 2011: It would seem that one in three Aussies cringe at the sound of Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you" according to new research¹ from Virgin Mobile. The pop princess' tune topped the list of the most irritating Christmas carols of 2011.

Aussies named 'Santa Baby' (16%) the second most irritating carol, with 'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus' (15%) a close third. Other carols that drive Aussies up the wall, in order, are: 'Away in a Manger' (9%), 'Jingle Bell Rock' (7%), 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' (5%).

The most annoying carols list follows the revelation that 36% of Aussies would prefer not to listen to Christmas carols whilst shopping, with one in every six (16.57%) saying that having to listen to Christmas carols is one of the most annoying things about Christmas shopping.

To relieve shoppers from Mariah's high pitch acapellas and help them hold on to their Christmas cheer when shopping, Virgin Mobile has launched Australia's first headphone loan program as a unique and cheeky way of helping Aussies avoid naff Christmas carols.

Available at selected Virgin Mobile stores in Westfield shopping centres, the headphone loan program allows shoppers to borrow a set of MP3 headphones pre-loaded with tunes from the Telco's free digital radio station 'Radio Free by Virgin Mobile' so they can shop free from naff Christmas carols.

"We've discovered a number of Christmas carols that drive people crazy, with Mariah Carey's tune topping the list and we wanted to provide relief to shoppers this festive season with our headphone loan program. Christmas shopping is supposed to be fun and festive, not stressful as it often is, so if you find carols cringeworthy, grab a pair of headphones and enjoy the carol-free sounds of Radio Free By Virgin Mobile," explains Virgin Mobile Marketing Director, David Scribner.

The headphones feature up to two hours of the most popular songs around via Radio Free by Virgin Mobile. Radio Free by Virgin Mobile plays music 'for the people, by the people', letting listeners vote for their favourite music and then broadcasting the most popular songs.

The headphones on the loan program feature a set Radio Free by Virgin Mobile playlist, however the free digital radio station can be streamed live either online (www.radiofree.com.au) or on your mobile (via a free app for iPhone and Android). For more information on Radio Free by Virgin Mobile head to: http://www.radiofree.com.au/

Virgin Mobile wishes everyone a very merry Christmas (minus the naff carols)!

---

¹ The research was conducted online by Pure Profile in November 2011 with 1,000 Australians aged 18 and over. The data was weighted to the latest population estimates derived from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

~ ENDS ~

Notes to Editors:

 

The top ten most irritating carols:
1. All I want for Christmas – the Mariah Carey version	34.33%
2. Santa Baby	16.47%
3. I saw Daddy kissing Santa Claus	14.98%
4. Away in a Manger	9.42%
5. Jingle Bell Rock	6.85%
6. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer	5.16%
7. Silent Night	4.86%
8. Santa Claus is coming to Town	4.56%
9. Jingle Bells	3.37%
10. Little Drummer Boy	> 1%

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

About Radio Free by Virgin Mobile Technology:
Radio Free by Virgin Mobile is built using dmg Radio Australia’s specially created user programmed radio (UPR) application.

About Virgin Mobile
Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than one million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now, and picked up a swag of awards along the way. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome! For more information in Virgin Mobile, head to: www.virginmobile.com.au

Get personal with us @ www.facebook.com/VirginMobileAus or www.twitter.com/virginmobileaus

 

 

 

~ Virgin Mobile launches Australia’s first headphone loan program to help shoppers avoid Christmas carol overload ~

Sydney, 12 December 2011: Instead of giving people a sense of nostalgia for their younger years, it appears that Christmas carols are driving many Aussie shoppers up the wall! New research released today by Virgin Mobile revealed that one in every three Aussies would prefer not to listen to Christmas carols whilst shopping, with one in every six (16.57%) saying that having to listen to Christmas carols is one of the most annoying things about Christmas shopping.

To relieve shoppers from Jingle Bells and help them hold on to their Christmas cheer when shopping, Virgin Mobile has launched Australia’s first headphone loan program as a unique and cheeky way of helping Aussies avoid naff Christmas carols.

Available at selected Virgin Mobile stores in Westfield shopping centres, the headphone loan program allows shoppers to borrow a set of MP3 headphones pre-loaded with tunes from the Telco's free digital radio station ‘Radio Free by Virgin Mobile’ so they can shop free from naff Christmas carols.

"Christmas shopping is supposed to be fun and festive but it can actually be quite stressful, so we wanted to do something for the one in three Aussies who have been driven up the wall by cringe-worthy carols playing in the shops since November!" explains Virgin Mobile Marketing Director, David Scribner.

"Our headphone loan program is a tongue-in-cheek way to ensure that everyone can go about their shopping with a spring in their step and some great music in their ears for the rest of the festive season!"

The headphones feature up to two hours of the most popular songs around via Radio Free by Virgin Mobile. Radio Free by Virgin Mobile plays music 'for the people, by the people', letting listeners vote for their favourite music and then broadcasting the most popular songs.

The headphones on the loan program feature a set Radio Free by Virgin Mobile playlist, however the free digital radio station can be streamed live either online (www.radiofree.com.au) or on your mobile (via a free iPhone app). For more information on Radio Free by Virgin Mobile head to: http://www.radiofree.com.au/

Virgin Mobile wishes everyone a very merry Christmas (minus the naff carols)!

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

What is Virgin Mobile Australia all about?

About Radio Free by Virgin Mobile Technology:
Radio Free by Virgin Mobile is built using dmg Radio Australia’s specially created user programmed radio (UPR) application.

About Virgin Mobile
Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than one million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now, and picked up a swag of awards along the way. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome! For more information in Virgin Mobile, head to: www.virginmobile.com.au

Get personal with us @ www.facebook.com/VirginMobileAus or www.twitter.com/virginmobileaus

VIRGIN MOBILE TO GIVE AWAY 25 BIKES A WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS

Sydney, 28 November 2011 - Summer tis' now officially the season to be free from traffic thanks to Virgin Mobile’s new finders, keepers initiative ‘A Fair Ride For All’ which will see the brand giveaway 25 pushbikes a week for three weeks across the country on FairRide.com.au.

Virgin Mobile will be hide 75 premium bikes of various styles (Fixie, Racer, Mountain Bike, BMX, City etc.), ranging from $600 to $1,500 each, across Australia and then liberating them each day to the public - releasing information on where to find them via a finders-keepers initiative centralised on FairRide.com.au.

This revolutionary use of Facebook will see users ‘like’ a hunt for particular bike, which will then push a post onto their Facebook wall, as well as their friends’ newsfeeds. Further posts are pushed to the user’s wall as clues are released. Participants can also save a calendar event for each hunt to their calendar of choice to ensure they don’t miss out.

Become a modern day version of Sherlock Holmes by following Virgin Mobile’s clues. The first clue of the day will contain cryptic text hinting to the bike’s general whereabouts, along with that day’s code to open the bike’s lock. The second clue will feature a photo to help hone in on the bike’s location. The third and final clue will be a pin-point on a map. Once the participants receive their clues and are certain of the location of the bike, it is then up to them to get out in the real world and hunt it down. The first to find it and unlock it rides it home (with the helmet provided of course).

Bike lovers can also pick up tips from Twitter with daily hunt announcements and updates using the hashtag #FairRide to help followers track down the shiny new pushies. Get spinning!

For more information on the campaign, head to: FairRide.com.au.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

What is Virgin Mobile Australia all about?

Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than 1 million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now.

We think a telco relationship should be rewarding so our Members also receive a host of benefits including Virgin Family perks, exclusive discounts and VIP access to gigs and music festivals. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a clear Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome!

~ No flag fall; Low flat rate for local and international mobile calls and texts; No contracts ~

Sydney, 1 November 2011: Life’s complicated enough these days without confusing mobile phone plans added to the mix. With so much small print and hidden charges in bills, it is no wonder Aussies are so confused when it comes to mobile phone plans! That’s why Virgin Mobile is proud to introduce the Simple Plan for both Prepaid and Postpaid customers

The Simple Plan offers two no-commitment options that are perfect for those who want an easy to understand plan with no hidden caps or rate plan complexities, made even simpler by the fact you can either bring your own phone and enjoy a no ties month to month contract or choose the Simple Prepaid recharge and enjoy a 90 day expiry.

With one flat per minute rate across calls and texts to a whopping 100 countries, both plans have no call connection fees, no contracts and no surprises but still all the fantastic perks that Virgin Mobile customers have become accustomed to: free voicemail, unlimited mobile calls and text Virgin to Virgin and freedom to rollover your unused plan credit to the following month.

With no commitment and no minimum contracts, the Simple Plans have a 15cent/min flat rate for calls and 15cent text messages and 100MB of data along with $19 worth of call credit. Certainly sounds simple!

"The feedback we have received is that Australians sometimes find the complexities of some rate plans confusing to understand and just want a simple plan that isn’t going to hurt their brain trying to work out how much they are going to be paying. We believe the Simple Plan provides exactly this. Continuing to offer a fair and transparent service to our members is at the core of our business model and these new plans really deliver what consumers have told us they want," explains Virgin Mobile Marketing Director, David Scribner.

The Postpaid Simple Plan can also be bundled with Virgin Mobile’s Pick & Mix web-only options to give even better value with the option to add extra data, unlimited calls and/or unlimited text - or even add on a handset . For example, for an additional $10 a month, get up to 1GB of data by bundling the new Data Value packs.

Offer Summary: A simple plan for Postpaid or Prepaid customers with a low flat rate for local and international calls and texts, no connection charges and no contracts. For more information on the Simple Plans go to www.virginmobile.com.au/simpleplan

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

About Virgin Mobile

Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than one million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now, and picked up a swag of awards along the way. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome!

Get personal with us @ www.facebook.com/VirginMobileAus or www.twitter.com/virginmobileaus

~ Virgin Mobile puts control in the hands of consumers with its new Pick & Mix plans ~

Sydney, 4th October 2011: Flexibility, choice and simplicity may not be words that automatically come to mind when you think about Telcos, however Virgin Mobile, in their continued commitment to make things fairer in the Telco industry, today introduced a plan that offers consumers just that – the Virgin Mobile Pick & Mix plan.

With the new Pick & Mix plan, Virgin Mobile offers its consumers the option to tailor the perfect plan to suit their lifestyle and needs and only pay for these elements.

Pick & Mix consists of a $19 a month base plan, which includes $19 credit and 100MB of data. After that control is entirely in the hands of the consumer as they pick and mix a number of options to build an individual plan for them, with each component offering clear and simple pricing. If texting is their thing, they would opt for the unlimited SMS option for an extra $10 per month. If they are big talkers they can add unlimited voice for $30 per month. Or if surfing the web floats their boat, Virgin Mobile has the data plan that will fulfill every need. The total of the components then becomes the customer’s plan.

And the choice and flexibility doesn’t end there. With Pick & Mix there is the option to change your plan as your needs may change, so if consumers know that one month their mobile use is going to be particularly SMS heavy and the next very Voice heavy, they can amend their bundles to suit how they plan to use their phone.

“Our ‘Pick & Mix’ plans continue to build on our existing philosophy of putting the member at the heart of everything. We acknowledge that our members are all individuals with individual needs, so the beauty of our new Pick & Mix plan is that they can pick and choose what they want, and change it from month to month as they require. Continuing to offer a fair and transparent service to our members is at the core of our business model and this new plan really delivers what consumers have told us they want – choice," explains Virgin Mobile Marketing Director, David Scribner.

The new Pick & Mix plans are based on five key principles: great value, simplicity, control, transparency and the choice of a great handset. They are available exclusively from Virgin Mobile’s website – check out www.virginmobile.com.au/pickandmix for more information and full Ts&Cs.

 

The Pick & Mix plan:

Component	Per month
Base Plan	$19 (Includes $19 credit & 100MB data. 15c p/min Call,,15c SMS & 0c Flag fall)
Unlimited SMS	$10
Unlimited Voice	$30
500MB data	$5
2GB data	$10
4GB	$20

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

About Virgin Mobile

Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than one million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now, and picked up a swag of awards along the way. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome!

Get personal with us @ www.facebook.com/VirginMobileAus or www.twitter.com/virginmobileaus

 

~ Virgin Mobile calls for a Voicemail Fee Amnesty ~

Sydney, 19th September 2011 - Australian mobile phone companies are raking in a hefty $385 million in revenue each year by charging consumers inflated Voicemail retrieval fees and consumers are none the wiser, according to new researchi commissioned by Virgin Mobile.

The simple act of retrieving a voicemail message sees what consumers consider to be Telco 'Pirates' pocket a shipload of silver and gold, with the average Australian mobile user with voicemail spending $33 of credit on voicemail each month. Yet despite spending 9% of their cap credit on voicemail, three out of four Aussies (74%) have no idea what they are paying to listen to messages.

According to the national survey of over 1,000 people, almost everyone (97%) believes it should be free to retrieve their voicemail on their mobile phone.

In recognition of International Talk Like a Pirate Day today and to call out Telco Pirates Australia wide, Virgin Mobile has released the findings of the Virgin Mobile Voicemail Pirates research and is calling a Voicemail fee amnesty - urging all Telcos to stop charging voicemail fees.

“Our research shows that nine out of ten (89%) Australians think phone companies that charge to retrieve voicemail are ‘pirates’ and yet many of them are being charged up to $1.36ii per voicemail message!” said Virgin Mobile’s Marketing Director, David Scribner.

“At Virgin Mobile, we provide all our customers with free voicemail and always have. They can check their voicemails anywhere, anytime without worrying about the cost. If we can afford to offer these services for free, then the other Aussie providers can certainly do the same! I am urging all other Telcos to drop their excessive voicemail fees and free Australian consumers from the burden of unnecessary voicemail charges. After all, why should you pay to call yourself?”

Many Aussie mobile users face confusing voicemail fee structures, which combine a flag-fall with per-30 or per-60 second call rates. Virgin Mobile remains the ONLY Telco in the lands to not charge for voicemail regardless of the plan. Not a zip, not a shilling, not a penny! Arrrrrggghhhh that’s a good deal!

“We have demystified and streamlined our mobile caps and plans to ensure that along with receiving maximum value, our customers know exactly what they are paying for – and what they get for free, like Voicemail. This allows each customer to spend their mobile budget on more of what they want from their mobile phone, and less on unwanted or unneeded fees,” said David.

To find out more about Virgin Mobile’s plan options go to http://www.virginmobile.com.au/mobilephone- plans/.

The survey also found:

• Only 12% of Australians know the cost of their voicemail (a further 14% know that it is free)
• In total, 85% of Australians use some type of missed call service. This includes voicemail where the phone user calls to retrieve a message (59%) and voicemail where the voicemail service calls the phone user (7%). Some mobile users also have missed call service where their phone records the missed call number (39%) or they receive a text message with the missed call number (21%).
• Those with voicemail say they receive an average of 1.6 voicemails per day.
• The average mobile user leaves 1.2 voicemails per day on someone else’s mobile phone.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

- Virgin Mobile committed to bringing fairness back to telcos -

Sydney, 5 July 2011:Almost nine out of ten (89%) Australians consider being given ‘a fair go’ to be part of Australia’s DNA, yet the majority believe they increasingly aren’t getting a fair go from key Australian service providers including telcos, banks and electricity companies, according to researchⁱ released today by Virgin Mobile. Going against the grain, Virgin Mobile, already rated number one for member satisfactionⁱⁱ, plans to bring fairness back to the people and has announced a new initiative aimed at providing ‘A Fair Go For All’.

The nationwide survey of more than 1,000 Aussie mobile users revealed that attitudes towards the telecommunications industry rated particularly poorly, with nearly two thirds (62%) of Australians out there believing their telco is likely to treat them unfairly. In fact, most Aussies think they are more likely to be treated unfairly by their mobile phone provider than by a parking ranger (57%); their bank (54%) or the tax man (49%).

Throwing down the gauntlet to its competitors, Virgin Mobile’s A Fair Go For All campaign will see the telco launch a range of initiatives over the next several months to make things simpler for consumers, and giving the member more flexibility and control. “We’ve taken a long hard look at ourselves and the industry in Australia. Having researched 5,000 members and consumers over the past few months, we’ve identified the key pain points,” said Virgin Mobile Marketing Director, David Scribner.

“Kicking off with the launch of two new, simpler sets of plans today, we intend to revisit the way we do things, from product offerings through to contractual arrangements and member service channels.”

Most Australians (in fact a whopping 93%) surveyed agreed that telcos need to simplify plans so that they are easier to understand and compare with competitors. In response to this Virgin Mobile has reduced the number of its mobile phone plans from 19 to just nine. The two new sets of plans – the ‘Big Plan’ and the ‘Fair Go Plan’ - provide clear options and some of the biggest value in Australia.

Virgin Mobile’s new plans:

According to the research, one of the main reasons people think telcos are unfair is not being able not being able to rollover unused cap credit (84%). “We believe it’s only fair that you should get what you pay for so Virgin Mobile remains the only Australian telco to offer free voicemail and the ability to rollover any unused creditⁱⁱⁱ to the following month,” said David.

“Our ‘A Fair Go For All’ initiative builds on our existing Virgin philosophy of putting the member at the heart of everything. Bringing fairness back to the people in this industry will be a long journey and we acknowledge that we are just at the start, but we are committed to righting telco wrongs and excited by what lays ahead.”

In a further bid to make its members lives simpler and easier, Virgin Mobile has recently expanded its retail footprint, with over 64 stores and kiosks now available to its 1 million+ members, and several more scheduled to open in the coming months.

Virgin Mobile also offers unlimited calls and text Virgin to Virgin and well as a host of member benefits including 10% credit back on Virgin Australia flights and VIP access to gigs and festivals.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lucinda Cole | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1804 | Lucinda@onegreenbean.com.au
Jess Makin | One Green Bean | Phone: 02 8020 1806 | Jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris | Virgin Mobile | Phone: 02 9028 0188 | Amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

About Virgin Mobile

Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than 1 million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now, and picked up a swag of awards along the way. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome!

Get personal with us @ www.facebook.com/memberslounge or www.twitter.com/virginmobileaus

ⁱ The survey was conducted online by Lonergan Research in June 2011. The panel consisted of 1,209 people from around Australia. The data has been weighted to reflect current ABS population statistics
ⁱⁱ Roy Morgan, June 2011
ⁱⁱⁱ Prepaid - you must recharge to the same voucher type before your credit runs out in order to roll over unused credit. Postpaid - Any unused included credit rolls over to following month only and is used once the following month’s credit is exhausted. Data does not roll over.

~ YouTube Partnership Brings the Festival to you ~

Sydney, 26th May 2011 – Virgin Mobile has announced its sponsorship once again of Splendour in the Grass 2011, promising to bring even more festival splendour to punters in its second year partnering with the prestigious music event. Following its successful live stream of Temper Trap’s set in 2010 that was viewed live by more than 13,000 people (and over 10,000 after the event), Virgin Mobile intend on expanding the number of acts featured this year and partnering with YouTube to ensure a wider reach. Virgin Mobile will stream several hours of festival fun from Splendour in the Grass 2011 – a mix of live and pre-recorded performances, band interviews and more. Virgin Mobile, who earlier this year streamed live from St Jerome’s Laneways Festival to an audience of 20,000 on YouTube (and another whopping 100,000 views since then), is still the only brand in Australian history to offer a live stream from an Australian music festival. Virgin Mobile will be hosting a number of stream parties around the country so those too far away to travel can get on board with all the Splendour fun.

Virgin Mobile’s Experiential Marketing Manager, Dave Cain, said, “The live stream is a unique opportunity for us to extend the reach of our sponsorship beyond Woodford by bringing the Splendour in the Grass festival experience to the masses in a branded environment. Viewers will get a real feel for this year’s festival with an awesome collection of music and behind-the scenes interviews spanning the three days.”

Dedicated to enhancing the overall experience for festival-goers, Virgin Mobile will also offer a host of VIP benefits to customers attending the festival including bathrooms that are cleaned more often known as 'The Posh Pit' (best seat in the house), an express bar queue (The Fast Lane) and a meal per day (in the form of a $10 voucher). All Virgin Mobile customers will receive a free recyclable mobile phone battery charger ensuring they can keep in touch with friends and family while they are there. The telco will also host The Power Point, a branded destination selling recyclable mobile phone battery chargers and Pre-Paid credit for Virgin Mobile customers.

For those that missed out on the hottest festival ticket around, a Facebook competition – now live on Virgin Mobile’s recently re-launched Facebook page www.Facebook.com/VirginMobileAus - will see six lucky people win a double pass to the festival including camping, flights and transfers – and the Virgin Mobile VIP experience. To win consumers will need to upload a photo of what they would give to go to Splendour in the Grass 2011.

Cain said, "Music continues to be a key pillar for the Virgin Mobile brand. We remain committed to enhancing the festival experience for consumers through the provision of VIP customer benefits and extending the festival experience to those at home through the live stream. Stay tuned for more exciting Splendour news over the next few weeks."

~ ENDS ~

For more information please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – 02 9699 9503 – jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile – 0403 999 821 – amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

What is Virgin Mobile Australia all about?

Here at Virgin Mobile, we've been putting our Members first for over 10 years. Ever since Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco market in the early noughties, we've been making a splash with our innovative products, cheeky ad campaigns and world-class customer service.

We've certainly come a long way from the early days when each new connection meant a little bell rang in the call centre, to proudly having more than 1 million Members in Australia. And they're happy Members too: we've been rated the No 1 telco for Customer Satisfaction for some time now.

We think a telco relationship should be rewarding so our Members also receive a host of benefits including Virgin Family perks, exclusive discounts and VIP access to gigs and music festivals. And because we use the Optus network it means that up to 97% of the population in Oz can get a clear Virgin Mobile signal. So come on in, more Members are always welcome!

~ Virgin Mobile declares Feb 15 ‘Break-Up Day’ encouraging people to do the ‘Switcheroo’ ~

Sydney, 15 February 2011 – Almost half the nationⁱ (48%) wish they could have a pain free break-up with their current mobile phone provider, according to new researchⁱⁱ released today by Virgin Mobile.

The research revealed that a staggering 49% of Australians who own a mobile phone are dissatisfied with their provider, with one in four citing poor mobile coverage as the cause. Other reasons Aussies are unhappy with their telcos are that calls drop out (18%), they don’t get good value for money (17%) and substandard customer service (16%).

Despite wanting to leave their telco, 56% of Australians feel it’s too difficult to switch providers, mainly because it’s too hard to get out of their contract (30%), too expensive (26%), they are worried about losing their number (20%) or they don’t know how to go about it (10%).

Recognising the desire by so many to switch telcos, Virgin Mobile has declared February 15^th 2011 ‘Break-Up Day’ and is encouraging people who are dissatisfied to do the ‘Switcheroo’ to Virgin Mobile.

“ You wouldn’t stay in a relationship that you were unhappy with, so why stay with your Telco if they’re not treating you right. If you are unhappy with your current provider, we think you should tell them it’s over! What better day to do it than Break-Up Day?” said Dan Woodall, Head of Customer Marketing Virgin Mobile.

“Virgin Mobile makes it easy to break-up by offering its customers a bigger package than most with its Big Cap 29, up to 97% population coverage and award winning customer service – not to mention a host of benefits like exclusive offers, Virgin family discounts and VIP gig access. A lot of Australians don’t realise how easy it is to switch providers and this year we are encouraging anyone who is unhappy to look around and see what else is available.”

Woodall continued, “In less than 24 hours you could be out of an unhappy relationship, and into a brand new phomance with someone who really cares. And just remember that if you are attached (to your number that is) we make it easy to keep your number.”

To make breaking-up even easier, Virgin Mobile is giving $100 credit to anyone who brings their own phoneⁱⁱⁱ and does the Switcheroo to Virgin Mobile before the end of March 2011.

Recognising that women are more likely than men to find it difficult to break-up with their provider (59% Vs 52%), Virgin Mobile will also have a team of hunky Break-Up Boys in Martin Place tomorrow, to make breaking up even easier, and hold the hand of anyone who needs support with breaking the news to their current telco and telling them “it’s over”.

The eye catching Break-Up Boys will hand out break-up kits on the morning of Break-Up Day with chocolates and step-by-step instructions on how to have a pain free break-up with your current provider.

More information on how to do the Switcheroo to Virgin Mobile is available at www.VirginMobile.com.au/switcheroo.

~ ENDS ~

For more information please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – 02 8020 1806 – jess@onegreenbean.com.au
Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile – 0403 999 821 – amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au

Notes to Editors:

Virgin Mobile is proud to offer consumers a bigger package on the Big Cap 29. For less than $1 a day consumers receive $450 of call and text credit, 200MB of data, free voicemail, unlimited talk and text to other Virgin Mobile customers and host of benefits and exclusive offers through www.MembersLounge.com.au.

 

The Big Cap 29 is available on a 24-month plan (min total cost $696) or on a month-tomonth plan when consumers bring their own phone.

ⁱ Australian’s who own a mobile phone
ⁱⁱ The survey was conducted online by Pure Profile from 8-9 February. The panel consisted of 1,209 people from around Australia. The data has been weighted to reflect current ABS population statistics
ⁱⁱⁱ Go to www.VirginMobile.com.au/switcheroo for full terms and conditions

Sydney, 26th May 2010 – Virgin Mobile today announced the appointment of Publicis Mojo as its lead integration agency. As lead integration agency, Publicis Mojo will work across key Virgin Mobile marketing functions including brand, acquisition, customer relationship marketing and channel. They will also play a significant role in the coordination of other specialist marketing agencies, thereby ensuring consistency of strategy and message. The new appointment will see Publicis Mojo work across a variety of both traditional and non-traditional media.

“After conducting a comprehensive formal review, we are delighted to have selected Publicis Mojo as our lead integration agency,” said Anthony Hearne, Virgin Mobile Australia Marketing Director. “We selected Publicis Mojo primarily because we felt they had excellent strategic insight which will enhance our existing marketing strategy and help us build upon the “Members Welcome” brand platform we launched last year.”

“Publicis Mojo also demonstrated to us a genuine understanding of our business and the dynamic telco industry. Their innovative thinking and fresh approach to our business will be instrumental in helping us continue delighting our members and presenting folks with credible alternative to the bigger guys in the telco market.”

Craig Davis, Co-Chairman & Executive Creative Director, Publicis Mojo said: "From day one, our values, philosophies and strategies aligned. At Mojo we believe that creativity powers progress; the Virgin Mobile team are smart, dynamic people with an infectious enthusiasm for creative solutions that will drive their business forward, and quickly. It's a happy partnership that's full of potential."

The appointment of Publicis Mojo follows an extensive review of agencies across the market.

Publicis Mojo and Virgin Mobile have officially begun working together from May 2010; with significant brand, research and campaign work already underway.

In other Virgin Mobile news, current Head of Brand, Jaclyn Lee-Joe, will be leaving Virgin Mobile for several months on maternity leave from early June. Rob Nolan, currently Head of Relationship Marketing, will take on Jaclyn’s responsibilities in her absence. Rob will be promoted to the newly created position of Head of Brand and Relationship Marketing, incorporating all brand, retention and customer marketing activities. This appointment will continue the great work at putting our members at the heart of our business to deliver a different telco experience.

~ ENDS ~

For more information please contact:

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Virgin Mobile releases a guide to demystify mobile data

Sydney, 20 May 2010 – Mobile Internet use is increasingly becoming more and more mainstream, with recent Neilson Research showing nearly one in three mobile users is already accessing the internet from their phone.

However, according to new research commissioned by Virgin Mobile most Australians who are using the internet on their phone don’t really understand mobile data. The survey of more than 1,000 people revealed that nine out of ten Aussies using Mobile Internet don’t actually know how much data is required for the activities they are enjoying online, such as Facebook, Twitter or GPS access.

“The fact is that a little bit of mobile data can go a long way but the key is understanding how much data you need, ensuring you have the right data plan and being aware of the danger zones so you can avoid them,” said Anthony Hearne, Marketing Director of Virgin Mobile Australia.

“Our research shows that 60% of mobile users want to start using Mobile Internet more, so Virgin Mobile has created a guide to demystify mobile data and help people choose the best data plan. From now until the end of June, we are offering our customers a ‘surprise’ 1GB of data so they can explore and enjoy the internet on their phone – that will allow you to send about 200,000 emails or update your status on Facebook 546,000 times.”

Mobile Internet is still a relatively new capability and despite the rapid uptake (40% of those who use it only started doing so in the last six months) there are still a lot of people who don’t understand or trust it.

Even amongst those who do use mobile data, many are cautious in their use for fear of ‘bill shock’. As a result three quarters of mobile data users said they consciously limit online activity on their phone because they are worried about going over their data allowance. With the proper advice and appropriate plan, this doesn’t need to be a worry.

To help those who are wondering what mobile data is all about, are unsure how to get the best value or are nervous about going over their chosen data allowance Virgin Mobile has created The Mobile Data Guide. The following guide has all the key things you need to know about using the internet on your phone and choosing the right data plan.

The Mobile Data Guide

Virgin Mobile’s guide to understanding Mobile Internet and choosing a data plan

Part one – understanding Mobile Internet:

What is Mobile Internet?

It's just like the Internet on your computer except you can access it on your phone, so the only big difference is the size of the screen and the fact that you can use it on the go.

How do I access Mobile Internet?

You need a 2G or 3G phone (a 3G handset is faster for browsing than a 2G) to access the internet and Virgin Mobile strongly recommends you get a data plan before going online on your phone, in order to take get the best value and avoid paying a premium unnecessarily.

How is data measured?

Mobile data is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB).

1,024 KB = 1 MB

1,024 MB = 1 GB

How do I know how much data things use?

Most things that people do online use very little data. To give you an idea of how much (or little) data is required to do things online on your phone Virgin Mobile has looked at some of the things you can do with 1GB:

• Send 200,000 emails
• Update your status 546,000 times on Facebook
• View Perez Hilton’s blog 245,000 times
• Post 536,870 tweets

The richer the content the more data it will use. So a high quality video will use a lot more data than a photo, which in turn will use more data than a simple text email or a status update. Feature films for example are approximately 750MB.

How big are applications?

Applications all vary in size and each application should tell you how big it is before you download it. As a safety net, your phone won’t let you use mobile data to download anything larger than 10MB and it will tell you to use a WiFi connection to download applications 10MB and above.

What’s the difference between downloading and uploading?

Downloading is what happens when you view, listen to or read things online. For example when you watch a video, open an attachment, visit a website or buy an application you are downloading.

Uploading is what happens when you add something to the internet from your phone. For example if you update your Facebook status, share a picture, add a video online or send an email you are uploading.

Most mobile phone carriers count uploading as well as downloading when calculating your data usage.

Are there hidden costs I should be worried about?

There are no hidden costs but it’s your responsibility to check your contract to see what your carrier charges you for uploading and downloading data. Data is usually competitively-priced if you have a data plan or a data allowance included in your plan. However if you have no data included in your plan or go over your limit that it can get expensive very quickly.

“Bill Shock” is becoming an increasingly used term but it’s really easy to avoid if you have the right data plan to suit your needs and monitor your usage (which is not as hard as it sounds!).

Part two - choosing a data plan:

Will I use my phone to surf the web?

Checking email, updating Facebook and tweeting on a phone is more popular than ever but if you plan to use your phone to browse the web, make sure you choose a plan with a data allowance to suit your needs. When choosing a data plan, think about the type of things you might want to do on your phone and how often you might want to do them.

From now until 30 June 2010, Virgin Mobile is giving all its new and existing Members a ‘surprise’ 1GB of bonus mobile data to explore and enjoy the internet from their phone in any way they choose. It gives Post-Paid mobile Members the opportunity to get a 1GB data plan for three months, a 1GB bonus with Your Cap recharges for Pre-Paid mobile, and a 1GB bonus on activation for new Pre-Paid Broadband Members.

This is a great opportunity for those curious about Mobile Internet to go nuts online and, at the same time, figure out how much data they use in a typical month.

How much data do I want to use on my mobile?

First of all, check if your mobile phone contract comes with a data allowance included. All Virgin Mobile’s latest Pre-Paid and Post-Paid Caps come with a Mobile Internet data allowance included.

If you plan to just check your email once or twice a day a 50MB data plan will probably work for you. If want to use the internet on your phone regularly go for a 300MB plan and if you like to be always connected you may want to go for a 1GB offer.

Don’t get sucked in to paying extra for more than 1GB on your phone unless you’re absolutely sure you need it. 1GB, given the current average persons monthly data usage, is a huge amount of data, and is mainly purchased by those using their phone as a “tethered modem”. A tethered modem is when you connect your phone to your computer, usually through W-Fi, and use your phone’s data allowance to upload and download on your computer.

Talk to your mobile phone provider about what you want to do on your phone and how long you might spend doing it. They should be able to recommend a plan that suits you.

What if I sign up for a data plan but love Mobile Internet so much I end up needing more?

Increase your data plan. Talk to your carrier about increasing your data plan – most should let you do this starting the following month for a minimal charge, or perhaps none at all.

How do I keep track of how much data I’m using?

To avoid any nasty shocks at the end of the month, ensure you choose a mobile phone provider with a tool to help you monitor your usage. Virgin Mobile’s Bill Preview helps you do just this.

Also, you can download an application that monitors your data usage so you can check where you are up to at any time during the month. These apps are available for all carriers and are usually only a couple of dollars to purchase. For example: http://www.shihab.com.au/mobileusage/

Whatever your Mobile Internet needs, Virgin Mobile strongly recommends that you shop around to compare data plans and charges. Spending a little bit of time thinking about the way you want to use the internet on your phone can mean huge savings in the long run!

~ENDS~

For more information please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – 02 8020 1806 – Jess@onegreenbean.com.au

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

More included value and flexibility

Sydney, 18th May 2010 – Virgin Mobile Australia has updated its Post-Paid Rollover Cap and Rollover Cap Plus plans with more included value, flexibility for customers and even more data now included on Caps of $79 and more.

The entire updated suite of plans include rollover talk and text, data allowances for all plans, International talk and text, unlimited mobile talk and text between Virgin Mobile Members, and free voicemail in Australia. Virgin Mobile Members also receive a host of other benefits including Virgin brand family offers such as 10% mobile credit back from Virgin Blue flights^a and VIP access to events.

“Our plans, from the $29 Rollover Cap upwards, now offer more included value than the other major telcos in market” said Anthony Hearne, Virgin Mobile Australia Marketing Director. “However we believe that ‘value’ goes beyond pure monetary savings and extends to the way we treat our Members, and providing them with more choice. That’s why flexibility and Member benefits are so important to us.”

Virgin Mobile is still the only Australian telco to offer Post-Paid Rollover Caps which allow customers to roll over any unused included talk & text into the following month^b. This helps Virgin Mobile Members get the best value from their cap plan.

Due to popularity of this offering, Virgin Mobile has now launched the ‘Rollover Value-Add’, a bolt-on enabling members who aren’t currently on a Rollover Cap plan to add the Rollover benefit to their existing cap plan for $4.95 per month. This can be added to Post-Paid Plans at any time throughout the contract^c .

For an extra $6 per month, Virgin Mobile’s Rollover Cap Plus plans have the same features as the standard Rollover Cap, but give consumers more mobile internet data to use per month with up to 1.5GB available.

The new Rollover Value Add option and the Rollover Cap Plus options reflect Virgin Mobile’s commitment to continue offering new and existing Members increased value and flexibility.

“Recognising that we are all unique and use phones differently, we are continuing to launch value-add and bolt-on features that allow users to build a phone plan that suits them. We are thrilled to continue offering great value plans to new and existing members”, said Anthony.

The updated plans are outlined as follows:

Full plan information can be found at: www.virginmobile.com.au/mobile-plans-pricing/monthly-plans/

~ ENDS ~

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – 02 9699 9503 – jess@onegreenbean.com.au

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

What is Virgin Mobile Australia all about?

Virgin Mobile Australia is a leading consumer-focused mobile and broadband provider. Our local telco adventure kicked off on in the early noughties when Sir Richard Branson saw an opportunity to stir up the Aussie telco industry.

Kicking off in October 2000 with a handful of staff and a whole lot of ambition, we immediately made an impact with fresh, innovative products and the trademark Virgin service. Some things never change.

From the beginning we've been partnered with Optus, using their network to give our Members the best coverage we possibly can, whilst maintaining our very unique Virgin way of doing things. As of right now, Virgin Mobile Australia can proudly boast of flagship retail outlets across the country, 1000s of partner outlets, fun-loving staff and over one million awesome Members. So here we are in 2010, celebrating our one millionth customer, gearing up for our 10th birthday and yet as ready as ever to kick off our shoes and join the fun. Come on in, Members are always welcome.

^a Offer ends 30th June 2010 and excludes Mobile Broadband and Broadband at Home customers. Offer applies only to base fare excluding GST and other charges. Standard Virgin Blue Terms and Conditions apply.

^b Any unused monthly included talk & text rolls over to the following month only and is used once the following month’s included talk & text is exhausted. Data does not rollover. ^c Min term of 30 days. First month will be pro-rated. Cancellation take effect from end of the current billing cycle.

1. 24 month connection required. Early cancellation fees apply.
2. included talk and text does not include all call types.

Sue Bailey appointed as new CEO and Michael Seymour as new CFO

Sydney, 12 April 2010 – Virgin Mobile today announced two changes to its senior leadership team. Firstly, Sue Bailey will take the reins as the new CEO of Virgin Mobile Australia, replacing current CEO, Peter Bithos. After two years as CEO, Peter is moving to head up the Consumer Division at SingTel’s associate joint venture in the Philippines, Globe Telecom.

A new adventure, professionally and personally, Peter and his family will relocate to Manila in May. Peter has been with Virgin Mobile for four years, including two as CEO, and led the company through integral years in its history. The company has just hit one million customers, achieved an award-winning level of customer service and has an expanded retail presence, both online and on-the-ground.

Sue has spent the last seven years with Virgin Mobile. Sue’s most recent position was Senior Vice President of Customer Proposition at Virgin Mobile USA with accountability for revenue, product management and development, customer retention, and device management. Prior to the US, Sue spent over four years in marketing at Virgin Mobile Australia, the last two years as Marketing Director.

"Sue is an astute marketing professional with a strong telecommunications background, and is a Virgin-person at heart," said Peter referring to Sue's experience. "Sue is excited to be reuniting with the Virgin Mobile Australia team and leading the business during what will continue to be a massive time of growth for the brand".

Secondly, Michael Seymour has been appointed as the new CFO. Michael has over 20 years of experience in senior commercial, finance and auditing positions. Most recently he held the position of CFO, then acting CEO, of Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd, an affiliate of SingTel. Having been overseas for eight years, Michael is excited to be returning to Australia with his family.

"Michael brings 20 impressive years of experience in senior financial roles in Australia and South-East Asia," said Peter. "I am confident that Michael will be a great addition to the team and provide the financial guidance needed for one of Australia's fastest growing telecoms".

Both Sue and Michael will be joining Virgin Mobile Australia in April.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Get 1GB of free data with Virgin Mobile until June 2010

Sydney, 29 March 2010 – To celebrate its Surprise Gig bonus data offer, Virgin Mobile today announced an exclusive ‘surprise gig’ with MGMT, to be held at the Virgin Mobile Metro in Sydney on 7th April.

MGMT’s scheduled concert on 6 April sold out within the hour but Virgin Mobile has secured the Grammy award nominees for a second ‘surprise’ show. Tickets will be given away with the online purchase of MGMT’s new album Congratulations through Members’ Lounge, and are available from 11am Wednesday March 31st. Details on how to get tickets can be found on facebook.com/memberslounge.

Virgin Mobile's Surprise Gig offer gives its Members a ‘surprise’ 1GB bonus internet data to use as they like to enjoy more internet. It gives Post-Paid Mobile Members the opportunity to get a 1GB data plan free for three months, Post-Paid Broadband Members a bonus 1GB monthly for three months, a 1GB bonus with Your Cap recharges for Pre-Paid Mobile, and a 1GB bonus on activation for new Pre-Paid Broadband Members. The offer runs until 30 June 2010.

The Surprise Gig tour features surprise performances by various artists at unexpected locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between April and June this year. Exclusive content relating to the Virgin Mobile Surprise Gig tour including ringtones, videos, wallpapers and exclusive music mixes, will be available for everyone and will help Virgin Mobile Members explore and enjoy their free 1GB of data.

The MGMT gig is the second Surprise Gig of the tour, which launched in Melbourne at the weekend, with Wolfmother giving a spectacular performance at the tour’s launch party hosted by Richard Branson.

Virgin Mobile’s Marketing Director Anthony Hearne said, “Wolfmother gave a fantastic performance on the weekend in Melbourne and we’re thrilled to surprise MGMT fans with a second chance to see them at the Virgin Mobile Metro next week and provide the opportunity for everyone to enjoy MGMT content for free.”

For the remainder of the ‘surprise’ gigs, the artist and location will be announced shortly before they take place through the Virgin Mobile Members Lounge facebook.com/memberslounge. To get Surprise Gigs alerts, information about getting tickets to a MGMT’s exclusive performance, and for all Surprise Gig Tour content including Wolfmother and more, simply become a fan of Members’ Lounge on Facebook: www.facebook.com/memberslounge.

For more on Virgin Mobile’s Surprise Gig offer, go to: www.virginmobile.com.au/surprisegig.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – jess@onegreenbean.com.au or 02 8020 1806

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Terms and Conditions apply, including Post-Paid Mobile: 1GB data plan costs $15 a month. For each of the first three months you’ll receive a credit of $15. Post-Paid Broadband: 1 GB of bonus data will be applied to the accounts of customers on eligible plans each month for three months. Pre-Paid Mobile: Only 5GB may be accumulated at any 1 time. 28 day expiry. Pre-Paid Broadband: New customers only, excludes BYO. Activate before 30/6/10 to receive 1GB bonus data. See virginmobile.com.au for full terms and conditions.

Sue Bailey appointed as new CEO and Michael Seymour as new CFO

Sydney, 12 April 2010 – Virgin Mobile today announced two changes to its senior leadership team. Firstly, Sue Bailey will take the reins as the new CEO of Virgin Mobile Australia, replacing current CEO, Peter Bithos. After two years as CEO, Peter is moving to head up the Consumer Division at SingTel’s associate joint venture in the Philippines, Globe Telecom.

A new adventure, professionally and personally, Peter and his family will relocate to Manila in May. Peter has been with Virgin Mobile for four years, including two as CEO, and led the company through integral years in its history. The company has just hit one million customers, achieved an award-winning level of customer service and has an expanded retail presence, both online and on-the-ground.

Sue has spent the last seven years with Virgin Mobile. Sue’s most recent position was Senior Vice President of Customer Proposition at Virgin Mobile USA with accountability for revenue, product management and development, customer retention, and device management. Prior to the US, Sue spent over four years in marketing at Virgin Mobile Australia, the last two years as Marketing Director.

"Sue is an astute marketing professional with a strong telecommunications background, and is a Virgin-person at heart," said Peter referring to Sue's experience. "Sue is excited to be reuniting with the Virgin Mobile Australia team and leading the business during what will continue to be a massive time of growth for the brand".

Secondly, Michael Seymour has been appointed as the new CFO. Michael has over 20 years of experience in senior commercial, finance and auditing positions. Most recently he held the position of CFO, then acting CEO, of Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd, an affiliate of SingTel. Having been overseas for eight years, Michael is excited to be returning to Australia with his family.

"Michael brings 20 impressive years of experience in senior financial roles in Australia and South-East Asia," said Peter. "I am confident that Michael will be a great addition to the team and provide the financial guidance needed for one of Australia's fastest growing telecoms".

Both Sue and Michael will be joining Virgin Mobile Australia in April.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Get 1GB of free data with Virgin Mobile until June 2010

Sydney, 29 March 2010 – To celebrate its Surprise Gig bonus data offer, Virgin Mobile today announced the Surprise Gig Tour – a series of free, last-minute music gigs around Australia to be announced via its Members' Lounge Facebook page.

Virgin Mobile's Surprise Gig offer gives its Members a ‘surprise’ 1GB bonus internet data to use as they like to enjoy more internet. It gives Post-Paid Mobile Members the opportunity to get a 1GB data plan free for three months, Post-Paid Broadband Members a bonus 1GB monthly for three months, a 1GB bonus with Your Cap recharges for Pre-Paid Mobile, and a 1GB bonus on activation for new Pre-Paid Broadband Members. The offer runs until 30 June 2010.

The Surprise Gig Tour will feature surprise performances by various artists at unexpected locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between April and June this year. Exclusive content relating to the Virgin Mobile Surprise Gig tour including ringtones, videos, wallpapers and exclusive music mixes, will be available for everyone and will help Virgin Mobile Members explore and enjoy their free 1GB of data. The tour launched in Melbourne at the weekend, with Wolfmother giving a spectacular performance to a party hosted by Richard Branson at Ding Dong Lounge.

The next Surprise Gig will be a live performance by American indie darlings MGMT on Wednesday 7 April at the Virgin Mobile Metro in Sydney. Tickets will be given away with the online purchase of MGMT’s new album Congratulations through Members’ Lounge, and are available from 11am Wednesday March 31st. Details on how to get tickets can be found on facebook.com/memberslounge .

Virgin Mobile’s Marketing Director Anthony Hearne said, “With the rise of smart phones, a lot of people can now access the internet from their handset. But because we all use the internet differently, we want to give our Members the freedom to go where they want, rather than restricting them to one or two sites. That’s why we’re offering a ‘surprise’ 1GB of data for customers to use as they wish – whether that’s downloading a ringtone, viewing a music video or following us on Facebook to find out where the next Surprise Gig is going to be!”

For the remainder of the gigs, the artist and location will be announced shortly before they take place.

“Ultimately the Surprise Gig tour is about an experience that can be enjoyed in person, on your mobile phone or online. And because it will be free for anyone to download, everybody gets a chance to enjoy the gigs!” said Anthony.

To get Surprise Gigs alerts, information about getting tickets to a MGMT’s exclusive performance, and for all Surprise Gig Tour content including Wolfmother and more, simply become a fan of Members’ Lounge on Facebook: www.facebook.com/memberslounge.

For more on Virgin Mobile’s Surprise Gig offer, go to: www.virginmobile.com.au/surprisegig.

~ ENDS ~

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Jess Makin – One Green Bean – jess@onegreenbean.com.au or 02 8020 1806

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Terms and Conditions apply, including Post-Paid Mobile: 1GB data plan costs $15 a month. For each of the first three months you’ll receive a credit of $15. Post-Paid Broadband: 1 GB of bonus data will be applied to the accounts of customers on eligible plans each month for three months. Promotion runs from April 1 to June 30 2010. Pre-Paid Mobile: Only 5GB may be accumulated at any 1 time. 28 day expiry. Pre-Paid Broadband: New customers only, excludes BYO. Activate before 30/6/10 to receive 1GB bonus data. See virginmobile.com.au for full terms and conditions.

Get 1GB of free data with Virgin Mobile until June 2010

Sydney, 26th March, 2010 – Virgin Mobile Australia is thrilled to be getting in on the 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix action by announcing its sponsorship, together with Virgin Blue, of the Virgin Racing Team. The event will take place this weekend 25th-28th March at Albert Park Raceway in Melbourne.

As part of the sponsorship, Virgin Mobile will gain ‘money-cant-buy’ access to the pit lane and the Virgin Racing Team. This will be used to develop exclusive Virgin Racing content, from the 2010 Australian Grand Prix and throughout the season, which will be provided to our Virgin Mobile Members on Members Lounge (www.memberslounge.com.au).

"By pushing technological boundaries and doing things a little differently, the Virgin Racing team have come a long way in the past few months. We love the way they're challenging convention in one of the world's most prestigious sports", said Anthony Hearne, Marketing Director, Virgin Mobile Australia. "Collaborating with other Virgin family companies has already benefited Virgin Mobile customers through opportunity to gain Velocity points and mobile credit when you fly with Virgin Blue. We’re thrilled to be supporting Virgin Racing and extending these benefits further".

"We greatly appreciate the support of Virgin Blue and Virgin Mobile," said Brett Volker, Head of Brand, Virgin Racing. "It's always great to work with other Virgin businesses because they get what we’re about and there's never a shortage of ideas we can execute around the races. Meanwhile on the track, the team are determined to achieve the best possible performance here in Australia hot on the heels Virgin Racings Grand Prix debut in Bahrain."

For more information please contact:

Jess Makin - One Green Bean - 02 9699 9503 - Jess@onegreenbean.com.au

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821

Get 1GB of free data with Virgin Mobile until June 2010

Sydney, 26th March, 2010 – Virgin Mobile Australia is thrilled to be getting in on the 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix action by announcing its sponsorship, together with Virgin Blue, of the Virgin Racing Team. The event will take place this weekend 25th-28th March at Albert Park Raceway in Melbourne.

As part of the sponsorship, Virgin Mobile will gain ‘money-cant-buy’ access to the pit lane and the Virgin Racing Team. This will be used to develop exclusive Virgin Racing content, from the 2010 Australian Grand Prix and throughout the season, which will be provided to our Virgin Mobile Members on Members Lounge (www.memberslounge.com.au).

"By pushing technological boundaries and doing things a little differently, the Virgin Racing team have come a long way in the past few months. We love the way they're challenging convention in one of the world's most prestigious sports", said Anthony Hearne, Marketing Director, Virgin Mobile Australia. "Collaborating with other Virgin family companies has already benefited Virgin Mobile customers through opportunity to gain Velocity points and mobile credit when you fly with Virgin Blue. We’re thrilled to be supporting Virgin Racing and extending these benefits further".

"We greatly appreciate the support of Virgin Blue and Virgin Mobile," said Brett Volker, Head of Brand, Virgin Racing. "It's always great to work with other Virgin businesses because they get what we’re about and there's never a shortage of ideas we can execute around the races. Meanwhile on the track, the team are determined to achieve the best possible performance here in Australia hot on the heels Virgin Racings Grand Prix debut in Bahrain."

For more information please contact:

Jess Makin - One Green Bean - 02 9699 9503 - Jess@onegreenbean.com.au

Amber Morris - Virgin Mobile - amber.morris@virginmobile.com.au or 0403 999 821